In house, nobody can hear you… PLAY PINBALL!
Each pinball collector is aware of that some machines don’t simply flip up—it’s a must to hunt them down, stalk them like prey, and pounce the second the chance arises. For me, that white whale got here within the type of the Pinball Brothers Alien Ellen Ripley Version.
This wasn’t simply any Alien. This was the superbly reimagined model celebrating Sigourney Weaver’s legendary function, wrapped in an ominously attractive cupboard that appears able to burst open and unleash a xenomorph. The second I noticed it introduced, I knew: I’ve to have it.
The hunt was on.
After years (sure, years!) of scrolling via listings, firing off hopeful messages, and listening to the standard collector heartbreak phrases—“already offered” or “sorry, mate, they’re not making them anymore”—I lastly noticed a lead: Mr Pinball Australia. They didn’t simply have one… they’d the one.
In fact Mr. Pinball Australia had one on the showroom flooring for us to take a look at!
Right here’s the place the story took a flip from “transaction” to “pinball pilgrimage.” Mr Pinball himself didn’t simply ship it. Oh no. He personally loaded it, drove it out, delivered it to my door, and set it up in my video games room like some kind of silverball Santa Claus. We’re speaking bolts tightened, tilt levelled, software program up to date—by the point he left, the machine was purring (properly… growling) and prepared for battle towards the xenomorph risk.
The primary plunge was every little thing I’d hoped for—darkish, atmospheric lighting; that eerie, tension-building soundtrack; the thunk of the ball ejecting right into a playfield filled with cinematic callouts and teeth-baring toys. It’s the form of machine that’s as a lot an expertise as it’s a recreation. And for a lifelong Alien fan, it’s perfection.
Making ready its ultimate resting place
Looking it down was half the enjoyable. Enjoying it? That’s the payoff.
Have you ever chased down a grail machine? Did it take months of detective work and collector whisper networks? Let’s hear your pinball trophy tales.
Good day MU-TH-UR!
Get away from her, you b1tch!
Mr. Pinball Australia threw within the unique machine’s backglass!
The RGB lighting on the Alien Ripley Version is one thing else
Argh, my eyes!!!!
